Wire rod dividing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for dividing a continuous series of rings dropping vertically in a helical formation from a delivery mechanism to an underlying collecting device in which the rings accumulate in coil form. The apparatus includes a plurality of pivotal elements which are movable from inoperative positions outside of the path of ring descent to operative positions extending into said path. When thus operatively positioned, the pivotal elements interrupt the further descent of rings into the underlying collecting device. A portion of the strand connecting the rings continuing to accumulate above the pivotal elements to those accumulated in coil form therebelow is located centrally by the operatively positioned elements in the path of ring descent. A cutting mechanism carried by and movable with the pivotal elements then operates to sever the centrally located portion of the connecting strand, thereby permitting the underlying coil to be removed from the collecting device.

United States Patent [191 Hauck [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 21, 1971 Germany P21 41 972.7

51 Int. Cl 321i 11/00 [58] Field oiSearch 83/167, 907, 262, 83/370, 564, 580

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,585,887 6 1971 Gerhardetal 83/907X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Switzerland 83/907 1 Dec. '4, 1973 Primary ExaminerFrank T. Yost Attorney-C. Yardley Chittick et al. I

[5 7] ABSTRACT which the rings accumulate in coil form. The apparatus includes a plurality of pivotal elements which are movable from inoperative positions outside of the path of ring descent to operative positions extending into said path. When thus operativelypositioned, the pivotal elements interrupt the further descent of rings into the underlying collecting device. A portion of the strand connecting the rings continuing to accumulate above the pivotal elements-to those accumulated in coil form therebelow is located centrally by the operatively positioned elements in the path of ring descent. A cutting mechanism carried by and movable with the pivotal elements .thenoperates to sever the centrally located portion of the connecting strand, thereby permitting the underlying coil to be removed from the collecting device. I

16 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures WIRE ROD DIVIDING APPARATUS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the art of material handling, and is particularly concerned with a novel and improved apparatus for dividing a continuous series of rings dropping vertically in a helical formation from a delivery mechanism to an underlying collecting device in which the rings accumulate in coilform. The invention is especially useful in, although not limited to, the steel industry where it is now common practice in the rolling of rods from billets, to deliverthe rolled rod from the last roll stand to a conventional laying head which places the rod in nonconcentric overlapping convolutions or rings on a moving conveyer. While on the conveyer, the rings may be subjected to controlled cooling operations to produce the required metallurgical characteristics in the finished rod. On leaving the conveyer, the rings drop vertically in a helical formation into a collecting device which assembles the rings into a suitable coil.

In order to improve the efficiency of modern mill installations, greater emphasis is being placedon the rolling of either larger billets or continuously cast sections. This in turn necessitates a dividing operation at the coil forming station, as there are practical limitations on the size and weight of product coils which can be handled by mill customers, for example wire drawing plants.

A number of devices-have already been developed'to perform-the aforementioned dividing operation at the coil forming station. These devices have not, however, operated successfully to the complete satisfaction of those skilled in the art. More particularly, one of these .prior art devices includes a flatplate adapted to move horizontally across the path of ring descent to separatea coil in the underlying coil forming device from the rings or convolutions descending continuously from the delivery end of the conveyenThe forward edge of the plate is suitably shaped to contact the strand connecting the underlying coil to the rings continuing to accumulate above the plate, and to carry the connecting strand into the cutting range of a shear mechanism supported by the'wall of the collecting device. After the connecting strand has been severed and the underlying coil has been cleared from the collecting device, the plate is retracted and-the coil-forming operation continues. The problem with this device lies in the fact that the connecting strand is usually bent or distorted by the plate during its lateral movement into the operative range of the shear. Any bending or distortion of the connecting strand frequently interferes with the subsequent removal of the underlying coil from the coilforming device.

In an attempt at overcoming the problem mentioned above, another prior art device has been developed wherein two separator plates are employed instead of one. The two separator plates move into the path of ring descent from oppositely disposed locations, with the connecting strand being located in a gap between the forward edges of the two operatively positioned separator plates. A pivotal arm is then employed to carry the connecting strand into the operative range of a shear mechanism, the latter again being being mounted to one side of the path of ring descent. Here again, however, experience has indicated that operation of this device results in a deformation of the connecting strand.

It is an object of the present inventionto provide a means for dividing a continuously descending helical formation of rings or convolutions in a manner which does not result in the bending or deformation of the strand portion being severed. This is accomplished by providing a plurality of pivotal elements which are movable into the path of ring descent in a manner which isolates the underlying coil in the coil-forming device, and which further results in the location of the connecting strand centrally in the path of ring descent. Thereafter, a shear mechanism carried by one of the pivotal elements operates to sever the connecting strand without deforming or bending the same.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through one embodiment of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1'; and

. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referringinifially to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a coil forming station 1' which includes a generally cylindrical wall 2 located vertically between a delivery mechanism 2a and the upstanding mandrel 3 of an underlying coil-forming device. Although not shown in any detail, it will'be understood'that the delivery mechanism 2a includes a conveyer onto which product rings r are deposited in a non'concentric overlapping arrangement. The rings drop from the delivery end' of the conveyer under the influence of gravity in a generally helical fonnation 16 and accumulate around the underlying mandrel 3 to form a coreless coil.

The dividing apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1' and 2 is generally indicated by the reference numeral 4'. The dividing apparatus includes a pair of journals 5 and 6 located on opposite sides ofthe cylindrical wall 2. Although not shown, it will be'understood that the journals 5 and 6 are rotatably mounted within stationary bearings. The journals 5 and 6 extend vertically from plate-like separator elements 7 and 7 which are adapted to pivot about the vertical axes of the journals 5 and 6 under the influence of piston-cylinder units 8. The units 8 operate to pivot the elements 7 and 7' between closed operative positions indicated by the solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, and open inoperative positions indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 2. The design of the pivotal elements 7 and 7' is such that when they are in the closed operative positions, there exists therebetween a generally S-shaped gap 12 within which is located a portion of the strand connecting the rings continuing to accumulate on the operatively positioned elements to the rings of a fully formed coil accumulated about the mandrel 3 of the underlying coil-forming device.

Each of the pivotal element 7 and 7 is further provided with a bearing supporting another journal 9. The journals 9 extend vertically from levers l0 and 10 which are pivotally manipulated by means" of pistoncylinder units 11 also carried by the pivotal elements 7 and 7. As is best shown in FIG. 2, when operatively extended, the piston rods of units 11 cause the levers l0 and 10 to pivot inwardly about the vertical axes of journals 9. While pivoting inwardly, the levers l and traverse the curved portion of the S-shaped gap 12 and thus provide a further locating function which results in the connecting strand being confined at a central location with respect to the surrounding wall 2 and the path of rings descending therethrough.

Lever 10 is further provided with a notch 10a having fixed and movable knife blades 13 and 14 on opposite sides thereof. Knife blade 14 is operated by a pistoncylinder unit also carried by the lever 10. The movable knife blade 14 cooperates with the fixed knife blade 13 to sever the portion of the connecting strand which is centrally located in the path of ring descent as a result of the cooperative action of the operatively positioned pivotal elements 7 and 7' and the operatively positioned levers l0 and 10'.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 operates in the following manner: while the coil is being formed around the mandrel 3 of the underlying coil-forming device, the pivotal elements 7 and 7 and the levers l0 and 10 are retracted to their inoperative position shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2. The rings or convolutions descend in a helical formation 16 from the delivery mechanism 2a and accumulate in coil form around the mandrel 3. As soon as the coil has reached a specific size or a predetermined weight, the pistoncylinder units 8 are actuated to pivotally move the elements 7 and 7' to their operative positions shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 2. The rings which continue to be delivered from above will then accumulate temporarily on the elements 7 and 7', there being a connecting strand leading downwardly through the gap 12 to the fully fonned coil lying therebelow. The piston-cylinder units 11 are then actuated to pivotally rotate the levers 10 and 10' about the vertical axes of the journals 9. As a result, the connecting strand will be confined at a central location with respect to the vertical path of ring descent. Once this has been accomplished, the piston-cylinder unit 15 is actuated to im-- part forward motion to the movable knife blade 14, thereby severing the connecting strand between knife blades 13 and 14. This frees the underlying coil from the rings continuing to accumulate on the operatively positioned pivotal elements 7 and 7'. The underlying coil is then removed from the collecting mandrel 3. Once this has been accomplished, the levers 10 and 10', and pivotal elements 7 and 7' are returned to their respective inoperative positions as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 2, thus permitting the rings which have temporarily accumulated on the elements 7 and 7' to drop downwardly into the underlying coil-forming device. The coil-forming operation thereafter continues until another coil has been formed around mandrel 3.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of the apparatus is shown at 21 in a disassembled exploded condition. The apparatus includes a cylindrical housing 22 having a plurality of radially disposed bearings 23, each of which is provided with a bore 24 for accommodating a pin 25. The pins 25 provide a means for pivotally mounting somewhat Z-shaped separating fingers 26 which are located above the bearings 23 when the apparatus is fully assembled. Each separating finger 26 has a free end 27 which is preferably tapered as shown in the drawings. The cylindrical housing 22 is provided with a plurality of openings 28 through which the tapered ends 27 of the separating fingers may be pivotally advanced and retracted. The separating fingers are interconnected by links 29 and at least one of the separating fingers is operatively associated with a piston-cylinder unit 30.

It will be understood that when installed, the cylindrical housing 22 surrounds the path of ring descent much in the same manner as the cylindrical housing 2 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The separating fingers 26 are pivotally manipulated by means of the piston-cylinder unit 30 to move the tapered ends 27 between inoperative positions at which the ends are withdrawn from the openings 28, and operative position at which the tapered ends 27 protrude through the openings 28 into the path of ring descent. When thus operatively positioned, the fingers 27 interrupt the further descent of rings into an underlying coil-forming station, it being understood that the rings continuing to temporarily accumulate on the members 27 will thereafter be connected to the underlying coil at the coil-forming station by a single strand.

The apparatus 21 further includes a plurality of assemblies 31a, 31b, 31c and 31d, each being pivotally mounted below the bearings 23 by means of the previously referred to pins 25. Each guide assembly 3la-3ld comprises upper and lower plates 32 and 33 which are vertically spaced by means of an intermediate spacer member 34. The guide assemblies 31a-31d are normally disposed outside of the path of ring descent, and are interconnected by means of links 35, much in the same manner as the links 29 interconnect the separating fingers 26. At least one of the guide assemblies, for example assembly 310, is operatively connected to a piston-cylinder unit 36.

The upper and lower plates 32, 33 of the assemblies 31a and 31c overlap the upper and lower plates 32, 33 of the assemblies 31b and 31d. Consequently, actuation of the piston-cylinder unit 36 results in the assemblies 3la-3ld being pivotally displaced into the path of ring descent in much the same manner as that of an iris diaphragm. When thus operatively closed, the assemblies 3la3ld effectively confine the connecting strand at a central location with respect to the path of ring descent. Once this has been accomplished, a pivotable lever 37, which is provided with a pair of shear blades 38, 39, and which is carried by assembly 31d, is moved into an operative position adjacent to the centrally located connecting strand by means of a piston-cylinder unit 40. The knife blades 38, 39 are then employed in a known manner to sever the connecting strand. Once this has been accomplished, the underlying coil is cleared from the coil-forming device, and the lever 37 and pivotal assemblies 3la-3ld are returned to their inoperative positions. Thereafter, the piston-cylinder unit 30 is actuated to retract the tapered ends 27 of the separating fingers 26. This allows the rings which have temporarily accumulated on the tapered ends 27 to drop downwardly into the underlying coil-forming device as the coil-forming operation thereafter proceeds.

In practice,'the size of the centering opening defined by the operatively positioned assemblies 3la3ld will correspond approximately to the distance between the two shear blades 38, 39..

In light of the foregoing, it will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention embodies features and advantages not offered by known prior art devices. Both of the embodiments herein disclosed provide means for interrupting the descent of a continuous helical formation of rings, and both further include means for locating the connecting strand centrally with respect to the path of ring descent. A shear mechanism is then operatively positioned at this central location to sever the connecting strand, thereby avoiding any resulting bending or deformation of the connecting strand which might otherwise result if the strand were pushedto a shear mechanism located at a fixed position to one side of the path of ring descent.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of disclosure which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for dividing a continuous series of rings dropping vertically in a helical formation from a delivery mechanism to an underlying collecting device in which the rings accumulate in coil form, said apparatus comprising: pivotal means movable about axes located outside of the path of ring descent between inoperative positions withdrawn from said path and operative positions extending into said path, the descent of rings from the delivery mechanism to the collecting device being interrupted by said operatively positioned pivotal means, with the rings continuing to accumulate above said pivotal means being connected to the rings collected in coil form therebelow by a connecting strand, a portion of which is confined by said pivotal means at a central location relative to the path of ring descent; and cutting means carried by and movable with said pivotal means for severing the connecting strand at said central location.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivotal means includes first pivotal elements which cooperate, when operatively positioned, to define a gap therebetween through which extends the connecting strand, and second pivotal elements carried by and movable with said first pivotal elements, said second pivotal elements being movable along said gap from opposite directions to operative positions cooperating with said first pivotal elements to confine 'a portion of the connecting strand at a central location relative to the path of ring descent.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cutting means is carried by and movable with one of said second pivotal elements.

"4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivotal means includes a plurality of radially spaced fingers which are pivotally moved into the path of ring descent to interrupt the descent of rings from the delivery mechanism into the coil forming device.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pivotal means further includes a plurality of pivotal assemblies, some of which partially overlap others, the said assemblies being located beneath said fingers and being adapted to close into the path of ring descent in the manner of a diaphragm, with the result that a portion of the strand connecting the rings above said fingers to the rings in the coil therebelow is centrally'located in the path of ring descent.

6. Apparatus for dividing a series of rings dropping vertically in a helical formation from a delivery mechanism to an underlying collecting device in which the rings accumulate in coil form, said apparatus comprising: a member having a passage of circular crosssection extending therethrough and at least three guide elements mounted for pivoting about axes parallel with the central axis of said passage between positions in which said elements do not occlude said passage and positions in which they together define an aperture, the perimeter of which is at all points substantially closer to said central axis than the portions of said member defining said passage, the arrangement being such that said guide elements can be moved from their first mentioned positions to their last mentioned positions so as to entrain reliably any strand extending through said passage so that after said elements have reached said last mentioned position the strand passes through said aperture, the apparatus further including shear means operable in the region of said aperture to sever a strand passing therethrough.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said shear means are carried by one of said guiding elements.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein two of said guide elements are mounted for pivoting about axes fixed with respect to said member and are in the form of two similarly shaped plates of such a shape that when said elements are in said last mentioned positions, said two guide elements occlude said passage entirely except for a slot defined between said two elements, extending across said passage and passing through the central axis of said member, and each of said two elements carries a further guide element pivotally mounted thereon and arranged so that when the elements are in said last mentioned positions each of said further elements extends across said slot and defines said aperture as a central position of said slot.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said shear means are carried by one of said further elements.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which there are four such guide elements each mounted for pivoting about axes fixed with respect to said member and shaped so as to occlude the passage entirely except for said aperture when the elements are in said last mentioned positions.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said elements are arranged to overlap in the manner of an iris diaphragm as they move towards said last mentioned positions.

12. Apparatus as'claimed in claim 10, wherein at least two oppositely disposed elements each comprise two plates spaced axially, and the other two segments are pivotable between the axially spaced plates of the first mentioned oppositely disposed elements.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which said shear means are carried by a lever pivotally mounted between the axially spaced plates of one of said two oppositely disposed elements.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said elements are coupled to each other through control levers whereby they are movable in synchronism by drive means common to all said elements.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 including a plurality of separating fingers movable from positions outside said passage to positions within said passage in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of said member and spaced axially from the location at which said elements operate.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said separating fingers are pivoted about respective axes parallel with said central axis, outside said passage and fixed with respect to said member, and are coupled to each other via control levers so that they are movable in synchronism by common drive means.

* l IF 

1. Apparatus for dividing a continuous series of rings dropping vertically in a helical formation from a delivery mechanism to an underlying collecting device in which the rings accumulate in coil form, said apparatus comprising: pivotal means movable about axes located outside of the path of ring descent between inoperative positions withdrawn from said path and operative positions extending into said path, the descent of rings from the delivery mechanism to the collecting device being interrupted by said operatively positioned pivotal means, with the rings continuing to accumulate above said pivotal means being connected to the rings collected in coil form therebelow by a connecting strand, a portion of which is confined by said pivotal means at a central location relative to the path of ring descent; and cutting means carried by and movable with said pivotal means for severing the connecting strand at said central location.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivotal means includes first pivotal elements which cooperate, when operatively positioned, to define a gap therebetween through which extends the connecting strand, and second pivotal elements carried by and movable with said first pivotal elements, said second pivotal elements being movable along said gap from opposite directions to operative positions cooperating with said first pivotal elements to confine a portion of the connecting strand at a central location relative to the path of ring descent.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cutting means is carried by and movable with one of said second pivotal elements.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivotal means includes a plurality of radially spaced fingers which are pivotally moved into the path of ring descent to interrupt the descent of rings from the delivery mechanism into the coil forming device.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pivotal means further includes a plurality of pivotal assemblies, some of which partially overlap others, the said assemblies being located beneath said fingers and being adapted to close into the path of ring descent in the manner of a diaphragm, with the result that a portion of the strand connecting the rings above said fingers to the rings in the coil therebelow is centrally located in the path of ring descent.
 6. Apparatus for dividing a series of rings dropping vertically in a helical formation from a delivery mechanism to an underlying collecting device in which the rings accumulate in coil form, said apparatus comprising: a member having a passage of circular cross-section extending therethrough and at least three guide elements mounted for pivoting about axes parallel with the central axis of said passage between positions in which said elements do not occlude said passage and positions in which they together define an aperture, the perimeter of which is at all points substantially closer to said central axis than the portions of said member defining said passage, the arrangement being such that said guide elements can be moved from their first mentioned positions to their last mentioned positions so as to entrain reliably any strand extending through said passage so that after said elements have reached said last mentioned position the strand passes through said aperture, the apparatus further including shear means operable in the region of said aperture to sever a strand passing therethrough.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said shear means are carried by one of said guiding elements.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein two of said guide elements are mounted for pivoting about axes fixed with respect to said member and are in the form of two similarly shaped plates of such a shape that when said elements are in said last mentioned positions, said two guide elements occlude said passage entirely except for a slot defined between said two elements, extending across said passage and passing through the central axis of said member, and each of said two elements carries a further guide element pivotally mounted thereon and arranged so that when the elements are in said last mentioned positions each of said further elements extends across said slot and defines said aperture as a central position of said slot.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said shear means are carried by one of said further elements.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which there are four such guide elements each mounted for pivoting about axes fixed with respect to said member and shaped so as to occlude the passage entirely except for said aperture when the elements are in said last mentioned positions.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said elements are arranged to overlap in the manner of an iris diaphragm as they move towards said last mentioned positions.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least two oppositely disposed elements each comprise two plates spaced axially, and the other two segments are pivotable between the axially spaced plates of the first mentioned oppositely disposed elements.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which said shear means are carried by a lever pivotally mounted between the axially spaced plates of one of said two oppositely disposed elements.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said elements are coupled to each other through control levers whereby they are movable in synchronism by drive means common to all said elements.
 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 including a plurality of separating fingers movable from positions outside said passage to positions within said passage in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of said member and spaced axially from the location at which said elements operate.
 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said separating fingers are pivoted about respective axes parallel with said central axis, outside said passage and fixed with respect to said member, and are coupled to each other via control levers so that they are movable in synchronism by common drive means. 